Hydraulic turbine



Nov. 24,1 25. 1,563,301.

F. SCHMIDT HYDRAULIC TURBmE Filed Aug. 8, 1921 Patented New, 24,

UNITED FRANZ SCHMIDT, on wAUWATesA, Wisconsin, AS$IGNOR To .ALL'ISi-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, es; MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION on DELA'WARE.

HYDRAULIC TURBINE.

To all whom "it may 'coo'zcelfltr it lmown that FRANZ Somunzu, a citizen of the l nit'ed State's, residing at .V a-uwatosa, in the 'coi-inty of lslilwauke'e and State of \Viseonsin, has invented a ceitain new :and useful liiipi'oi "ei'iient in .li 'lydi'aulic Turbines, of which the following is a "specifieatien.

This invention eel-ates in geneml to improvements in the structure and ope-ration of hydraulic apparatus, and relates more Specifically to improvements i n the construction of hydraulic turbines.

An object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic turbine which simple in "(iOllShl'UClllOll and efficient in opemiion. knother object of the invention is to provide ain improved epeed ring structure for hy- Kta'lnlic "turbines "which may he l'nafni'i'i 'zietu i'ed at inil'wi l'i iui n cost and which "will 'elf eet most efiicient delivery oi the working fluid llllL-"L conduit is or inari'ily formed to d'eliver the fluid inwai'dlytoward the tn 'fbi ne exis. Within the spiral conduit, it is e stonmi'y to Pl0Vl'(il' a speed ring hm' ing stationing" \e'iies which serve the dual ifune lion of proper-1y"guiding the entering fluid and o l? ei i ppo rting upper tni' 'bi ne st'ii'uetui'e. in the speed rings of the prior art, it has been the uniyei'sal custom to make all of the guide vanes 0i identical eti'uctme, that is oi the Seine ize and set at the same 1 "ur'bine axis. lt 'has also been customary to foim speed Tin-g comprising the gi-iid'e vanes end the adjacent conduit walls, as a single easting.

Due to the fact that the c lierarete is'ti"e oi the entering 'fhiid me cone'tant-ly the 1;;- ing; v as it edvaneecalong the spiral inlet conduit, it has heenfioifi d that the prior structure embodying ide-n iea1-vanes,'is relatively ineflicient and that the vanes should he of d'iifei'ent formation adj acei'it to (iii? i'ei'ent portions ofihe s p-iriil inlet conduit. The present intention eonten'lplatee the pievision of a speed ring havingthe vanes constructed With different ehainetei'istiicse0 es to produce maximum efficiencyofvztdinission of the .zfluild.

The prior "constructions especially for large units, have also'b'e'en found to he-i'elative ly expensive. 'lVith the present in- -vention the speed ling side Walls are formed of"ettru'ctm'e1 metal elements and sheet steel plates, whereby thecost of construction is not only reduced to a minimum, but a stronger structure results.

A clear conception of several embodi- HTGHJCS of the invention and of the operation of apparatus constructed in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming ta apart this specification in which like reference character's designate the same '01 similar pea-ts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a transverse horizontal section 'tl'i'i'oug h n hydraulic turbine installation (3111- elosed-i n :Figs. 11 a-nd:2,- eomprisesin general a concrete setting 22 forming a horizontal Inlet 'eonchnt i2 communicating "tangentially 'wit'l'i a 'Sp'l-Tarl. horizontal inlet conduit a epee'd Ting comprising an anin'ilar series of parallel veitioal guide vanes i i, '5, '6, 7 leeeted w thin the spinal inlet nondmt :3, an annular series of edgusta'ble flow conti'ol ling guide vanes 27 located Within the speed ring, e Francis 'tiwbin'e impeller 8 disposed within the "annulus fox-med hy't h'e ad'jnsteble guide vanes e f-, and admit tube 10 ceinini'inieating with the turbine discharge. I

' While the conduit-e 2, 3 l iev'eheen epeeifieinly illuetrete es cfeivnied he eenerete setting "22, it will be nndeietoodithet these eendi'rits may be enelesed by 'a .e'aeting or by a sheet metal easing instead of the eonc'riete. Due to the fect that 'Jfluicl :is is- 011* fged nemthe sp iml inlet conduit? at all points abontthe'terbine exisyandiin order-t0 provide a relatively uniform suppl -y oi fl'ui'd to all portions of the turbine Witho'ut cree'ttil ing pockets or spaces which are not filled with fluid, the cross-sectional area of the conduit 3 gradually diminishes in the direction of flow of the fluid through the conduit. The delivery of fluid from the spiral inlet conduit 3, inwardly toward the turbine axis may be either horizontal as shown, or vertical, or inclined at an angle to the horizontal.

The speed ring illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises an annular series of stationary guide vanes 4, 5, 6, 7 which span the discharge opening leading from the spiral casing 3. These guide vanes which under certain conditions act as tension members and under other conditions serve as compression members, may be formed of any suitable ma terial capable of withstanding the forces to which they are subjected, and may in some instances be made of cast iron or steel, whereas in other cases it may be desirable to form them of sheet metal. The vanes 6 adjacent to the portion of the inlet conduit 3 having greatest cross-sectional area, are set at a different angle relatively to the turbine axis than are the other vanes of the speed ring, the difference in angle being indicated in Fig. 1 wherein the vanes shown in dot and dash have the same angle as the remaining vanes while the vanes illustrated in full lines are constructed in accordance with the present invention. From the disclosure in Fig. 1 it will also be apparent that the vanes 6 adjacent to the portion of the conduit 3 having greatest cross-sectional area,

are wider than the succeeding set of guide vanes 5, the width being measured in the direction of flow of the fluid. The vanes are also wider measured in the direction of flow of the fluid, than the vanes 7 of the neXt set, which are likewise wider than the vanes 4c of the next set. This variation in the characteristics, namely, width and angularity of the vanes produces a speed ring adapted to effectively conduct the fluid from the spiral inlet conduit 3 to the turbine impeller 8 and to insure uniform delivery of fluid to all por tions of the turbine impeller. The variation in width also permits reduction of the overall dimension of the casing forming the spiral conduit, to a minimum. It will be obvious that the specific structure illustrated may be applicable to only a limited set of conditions and that the specific design must necessarily be changed to meet variations in these conditions.

The upper and lower walls of the speed ring are formed of sheet metal plane plates 11, 12 respectively, which are attached to the ends of the vanes 4, 5, 6, 7 in any convenient manner as by welding, riveting or with the aid of screws. The plates 11, 12 are preferably made of commercial sheet steel and in several sections. The upper plate 11 is secured to the adjacent turbine structure by means of an annular channel bar 28 and an angle bar 30, these bars being fastened to the plate in any convenient manner as by welding or riveting, and being interlocked with the concrete 22. The lower plate 12 is likewise attached to the adjacent turbine structure by means of an annular channel bar 1 1- and an annular angle bar 29 attached to the plate 12. The channel and angle bars 14:, 28, 29, 80 are preferably made of standard structural material and effectively serve to retain the plates 11, 12 and the vanes 4, 5, 6, 7 in proper position. The speed ring guide vanes besides serving to properly conduct the fluid entering the turbine, also serve as struts for supporting upper turbine structure resting upon the upper plate 11 and as tension members for preventing spreading of the plates 11, 12.

The flow controlling guide vanes 27 are adjustably supported in the lower and upper turbine casings 16, 20 respectively, by means of adjusting pivots 15 whereby the vanes 27 may be adjusted to vary the degree of whirl of the entering fluid and also to increase or diminish the volume of fluid entering the impeller. The adjustment of the guide vanes 27 is ordinarily effected by means of a speed governor acting through a suitable servo-motor. The lower turbine casing 16 is secured to the concrete setting 22 directly above the draft tube 10, while the upper turbine casing is secured to the upper speed ring plate 11 and the channel bar 28.

The turbine impeller comprises an outer annular rim 17 cooperating with the lower turbine casing 16, a plurality of vanes secured to the rim 17 and to a central hub, and a main shaft 9 attached to the hub and supported in a suitable bearing 18 secured to the upper casing 20.

The hydraulic turbine installation disclosed in Fig. 3, comprises a setting and inlet conduits similar to those of l and 2, but differs from the installation previously described, in the construction or": the speed ring and of the turbine. In the installation illustrated in liig. f, the speed ring comprises an annular series of stationary struts or tension members 18 each of a 1 which has upper and lower ends extending through openings in the upper and lower plates 25, 26 respectively, these ends b ng secured to the plates by nuts or other sin 1 ble fastening devices. The struts or tension members 18 as disclosed, have circular cro s section but they may be shaped as vanrz': and are constructed of any suitable DUI-is capable of withstanding the applied orces.

Each of the plates 25, 26 are preferably formed annular either in one piece or of several sections, the plates being preferably constructed of commercial sheet steel. The upper plate is secured to.- the adjacent turbine structure by means. of an annular "chnnncl ber 92S and an angle bar 30, these bars being fastened to the plate 'in'nnyeonwenien't inminer and being interlocked with the concrete which forms the turbine ting. The lower plate "26 is likewise ettaehed t'o the conere'te setting by means of an 'nniru l'a'r ej-l-nn'inel h ar Fi l and en -zunin-lnr nngl'e ber zit incl ed ie the -plnl=e '26 end "embedded in "the :ncljacent concrete. The cfhanne l n nd Ulgli" "hai are preferably nmde Minn-rill nizr" 1 all and e ll'eeti ll;

".90 in proper p s. v

As iirtl-ie install: ion=previously described, i'he iioWmontrollin :g-uide wanes "27 are 'ndust a'hly billjfllfOl'i el in the l'ower and upper stntionzu turbine easing 's 3.1, 19 i'espee hy in ans 'of ndjns pivots 1-5 Wherethe vanes nm y be "adjusted to vary the degree of whirl of the entering ilnid and also to increase or d 'ininish the volume oil fluid ient'erin'g the turbine. l 'he lower turbine easing 3']. is secured to =tl w-concre'te turbine setting .-diii eetl-y :zvhove the oreift tu'he, while the ripper trULlDiIlQQflS'i'DD' eeeur'erl lo "the upper speed r i n'g plnii'e L 1. 'ill-i'e turfh'in'e impeller 21 is 'of the zi-niel liow type and I .ehed to the lower extremity of the main ehnai t 121': which is en p ported in it iiinzzrin'g in the N pper turbine easing ii). The i urhiine impeller 21 I GUQi'VQS llui d tvl'iich passes the adjustable guide vanes 27, from. n. Ynnelree transition *spe-ee which is bounded by the upper will :lower :turhine cz'isings Ill), Ell.

During :i'iorninl operation a the installerlion i'lilusiirni'ei'l in it s 'l and 22', the fll'i'i iil is .z'i-dinitteii to the turlyme through the eon duits 2, 3, past the sliitioiniry speed ring vzmes eh 5,-(5. Tend pest Plalrezrdjnstaihleguide vnncs rfri'i'er u 1" energy to the impeller 8.1th'e *liuiil ered. from the tin wine through i-the clrn lt tube :10. In the installation disclosed (in if 3, the Lilui'd is iltll lllii-letl iron: iihe conduit 3 throll'g'l-i the speed ring and pest 'the adjustable .guide runes 2'? to the etnne ee transition space 22-, from whence theZfiu-id passes throi'igh the .ini' ze'lln' 21 to the draft tube. The control of the speed and of the quantity oi? ii'uid phasing through the impeller is "eii'e'cted by ndj'uslinei'lt oi" the ino'i' je .guii le vanes :21.

it will. be obvious t art by C(HlSlJfllCiQ-i'ilt'," ihe SiilliiOllHffV inlet n'le vanes 4, 5, 6, 7 of the speed ring iii retell in. l iags. 1 nmi 2. as disclosed. the fluid will he admitted lo the turbine iin i'e'ller e't the .lll'OSiiGiliUiGIll) angle end nnitorin delivery of fluid to all portions of the impeller will be insured.

The construction of th'e'speed ring with in dividiml guide mines or members end "an nuler sheet metal side plates secured to the concrete setting-by means of annular ehnnnel and englenhars, reduces the eostof eon strnetion to a minimum and permits eon strueti'onef the speed ring at- -the hydraulic site. 1- is =strn'ofinre is especially entage'ons in large units wherein it e imim tes necessity of employing large castings, the transportation and -ins tnllniti'en '1 ".011 is eedin'gl y burdensome. The sp .cl ring structure, besides lee-ing inexpensive, 1pessessesunaximinn strength and =perinits selectio'n 'el clesirahle ninte leis in Its eonstrne'tion.

duet fluid toward said axis from 1 1 'si least one of said leming e eh eeteristio which is --di.-ifei-en t from eeriespondiin'g "characteristics of other of said *VzrllOS, and ines-11's forming :a spire-l conduit eolni'nnniic'z with said vzvn'es end coniplete'ly sill-rounding said -tvxis.

2. 111 n "li qdr-a irlie machine, a rot-or lia-win an means fo'r controllii tl fluid to said rotor, -a;-speed ring c'oinprs inn aln nnnnlnr series of ve-hes surrounding and formed to enti irXis f oni al es, at east one 01 said 'n'es iewing s chairn'eteeistie which is di ie'rent lir'oin corresponding cl-1 "ne teristies of other of said vanes, nin'd inen n's fOY-lllll'lg a e m-ml "condi-iit COHTHIl l lllczitilig with said vanes r-n'd COR-'1- 'plete'ly :suii'romiding said X-iS.

In a hydraulic iii-eel n'e, e I'o'tor her- 111g an axis, a speed firing eoniprisin3; :'1 n .zmnulerseries ef .ide vanes fennel] tom-ond uet "l 1i d toward said axis lz'i'ojni nil sides. "the ang- 'lnrity of nt least one of said. relatively to said. being di'liferent L th at '07.?:inotlrei:, ztnd means itorn'ii-ng spiral conduit coinnninic zifting w h seid venesnnd completely surrounding said axis.

4. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor huring an axis, inen-11s -for controlling the flow of fluid-to said rotor- :1 speed ring comprising an annular series of vanes surrounding said flow-control queens and formed to con.- duet Ffluid. toward ssh. l l XiS ill'Olll all sides, the ignl arit'y of at least one oi sni'd vanes .re'letfely to sa id :txis being different from that of another, and means forinin-g a-spiral conduit :ooniimuhic ating witl' said vanes and completely surrounding said axis.

5. In ehydrenl'ie inneh i'ne a rotor he i' ing an axis, a speed Ting eomii ing; an annular series oi-Tguideraines' extending perellel to said axis and :fermetl to conduct fluid toward said axis from all sides, at least one of said vanes having a chemo lcristic which is different from corresponiit ing characteristics of other of said vanes, and means forming a spiral condit communicating with said vanes and completely surrounding said speed ring.

6. In a hydraulic turbine, means forming a spiral fluid conducting conduit, and an annular series of guide vanes within said conduit, the angularity relatively to the tun-i bine axis of the vanes adjacent the por tion of said conduit having smallest crosssectional area being less than that of said vanes adjacent to the portion of said conduit having greatest cross-sectional area.

7. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor having an axis, a speed ring comprising an annular series of guide vanes formed to conduct fluid toward said axis from all sides, at least one of said vanes being narrower than another measured in the direction of flow of fluid, and means forming a spiral conduit communicating with said vanes and completely surrounding said axis.

8. In ahydraulic machine, a rotor having an axis, means for controlling the flow of fluid to said rotor, a speed ring comprising an annular series of vanes surrounding said flow control means and formed to conduct fluid toward said axis from a l sides. at least one of said vanes being narrower than another measured in the direction oi flow of fluid, and means forming a spiral conduit communicating with said vanes and completely surrounding said axis.

9. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor having an axis, a speed ring comprising an annular series of vanes formed to conduct fluid toward said axis from all sides, at least one of said vanes being narrower than another measured in the direction of flow of fluid, an annular series of? movable guide vanes disposed within said speed ring, and means forming a spiral conduit communieating with said vanes and completely surrounding said axis.

10. In a hydraulic machine, rotor having an axis, a speed ring comprising an annular series of guide vanes formed to conduct fluid toward said axis from all sides, at least one of said vanes having a characteristic which is difierent from corre- RPOIKilIlg characteristics oi other of said. vanes, meansforming a spiral conduit communicating laterally with said vanes from all sides of said axis, and a flow decelerator communicating with said rotor in line with said axis.

11. In a hydraulic turbine, means fornr ing a spiral fluid conducting conduit, andan annular series of vanes within said conduit, the vanes adjacent to the portion of said con duit having smallest cross-sectional area. being narrower measured in the direction of flow of fluid than said vanes adjacent to the portion of said conduit having greatest cross-sectional area.

12. In a hydraulic turbine, means forming a conduit for conducting fluid transversely of the turbine axis, and a series of? guide vanes in said conduit, the angularity of at least one of said vanes relatively to said axis being different from that of another and at least one of said vanes being narrower than another measured in the direction of flow of fluid.

13. In a hydraulic turbine, means forming an annular fluid conducting conduit, and an annular series of parallel guide vanes spanning said conduit, the angularity of at least one of said vanes relatively to the axis of annularity of said conduit being different from that of another and at least one of said vanes being narrow than another measured in the direction of flow of fluid.

1/1. In a hydraulic turbine, means forming a spiral fluid conducting conduit, and an annular series of guide vanes within said conduit, the angularity of at least one of said vanes relatively to the axis of spirality of said conduit being different from that of another and said vanes adjacent to the portion of said conduit of smallest cross-seetional area eing narrower measured in the direction of flow of fluid than the vanes adjacent to the portion 01 said conduit of greatest cross-sectional area.

15. In a hydraulic turbine, means for controlling the delivery of fluid to the turbine, and a speed ring surrounding said controlling means, said speed ring comprising an annular series of vanes some of which are 'widcr than others measured in the direction of flow of fluid.

16. In a hydra ulie turbine, means for controlling the flow of fluid to the turbine, and a speed ring;- sari-minding said controlling means, said speed ring comprising an annular series of "anes the angularity of some of which relatively to the turbine axis is different from that of others.

17. In a hydraulic turbine, means for controlling the flow of fluid to the turbine, and a speed ring surrounding said control ling means, said speed ring comprising an annular series of guide vanes the ai'igularity of some of which relatively to the turbine axis is different from that of others and the width of some of which is different from that of others measured in the direction of flow of fluid.

18. In a hydraulic turbine, a speed ring comprising upper and lower plates, structural metal mei'nbers secured to said plates and to adjacent turbine structure, and a series of members connecting said plates.

19. In a hydraulic turbine, a speed ring comprising upper and lower sheet metal plates, means for attaching said plates to the adjacent turbine structure, and a series of guide vanes connecting said sheet metal plates.

20. In a hydraulic turbine, a speed ring comprising upper and lower sheet metal plates, structural metal members secured to said plates and to the adjacent turbine structure, and a series of members secured to and connecting said plates.

21. In a hydraulic turbine, a speed ring comprising annular plane sheet metal upper and lower plates, structural metal members secured to said plates and to the adjacent turbine structure, and an annular series of guide vanes attached to and directly connecting' said plates.

22. In a hydraulic turbine, a speed ring comprising an annular sheet metal plate, structural metal members secured to said plate and to the adjacent turbine structure, and guide vanes secured to said plate and spanning the turbine inlet conduit.

23. In a hydraulic turbine, a speed ring comprising an annular sheet metal top plate,

structural metal members secured to said plate and to upper turbine structure, and a series of members depending from said plate and resting upon lower turbine structure.

24-. In a hydraulic turbine, a speed ring comprising an annular sheet metal top plate adapted to support upper turbine structure, and an annular series of members depending from said plate and resting upon lower turbine structure.

25. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor having an axis, a speed ring comprising an annular series of vanes formed to conduct fluid toward said axis from all sides, at least one of said vanes having a characteristic which is different from corresponding characteristics of other of said vanes, means for admitting fluid to said speed ring from all sides of said axis, and a flow decelerator communicating with said rotor in line with said axis.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is aflixed hereto.

FRANZ SCHMIDT. 

